Turret traverse mechanism



Sept. 15, 1970 A. MANIKER 9 3 TURRET' TRAVERSE MECHANISM Filed Aug. 28,1968 441904 MAM/K6)? MOI/1V ROWE INVENTOR5 .warzgmers United StatesPatent 3,528,320 TURRET TRAVERSE MECHANISM Aaron Maniker, Southfield,and John H. Rowe, Berkley,

Mich., assignors, by mesne assignments, to the United States of Americaas represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Aug. 28, 1968, Ser.No. 756,015 Int. Cl. F16h 5/48 US. Cl. 74-625 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A turret traverse mechanism for rotating the turret about thetraverse axis of a support hull. Motor and manual power meansalternately and selectively drive the turret housing depending upon thepositon of a clutch mechanism which is connected with each of the powermeans and also the position of a motor control means.

This invention relates to a turret and more particularly to means forrotating a turret about a traverse axis.

It is conventional in military operations to mount a rotatable turret onthe hull of a tank and to provide a driving means therefore. Thisdriving means is necessary to enable rotation of the turret to anytraverse position regardless of the direction in which the tank ismoving. It has been found that if the power for the driving means islost, the tank crew becomes extremely vulnerable to enemy attack due toits inability to direct the armament which is mounted on the turret atthe enemy. Accordingly, there exists a great need for a flexible systemwhich will permit the tank crew to rotate the turret about the traverseaxis after normal power has been lost. In addition, it is oftendesirable to selectively rotate the tank turrent manually so as not todivulge the tanks position. The prior art method of accomplishing thiswas with a differential. To expedite manual operation, however, it isfurther desirable that the means for manually rotating the turret beautomatically connected with the turret output drive means whenelectrical and hydraulic power is removed or unavailable and yet bedisconnected from the turret output drive means when power is available.

According to the present invention, there is provided a turret traversemechanism for rotating a turret about a traverse axis on a support hull.A motor power source and a manually operated power source selectivelyprovide power for rotating the turret. A power transfer means isprovided for normally coupling the manual means with the output gearmeans which transmits the rotative power between the support housing andthe support hull. Decoupling means are provided for decoupling themanual power means from the output gear means and simultaneouslyproviding power to the motor means which is also connected to the powertransfer means for providing rotational power to said output gear meanswhereby the turret may be rotated about the traverse axis. The powertransfer means comprises a clutch type brake which holds the turrethousing locked in azimuth by means of a no-back unit. The brake isnormally engaged by compression springs against a piston which holds ageared brake plate assembly against a flange on the input shaft. Whenthe gunner squeezes his palm switches, a solenoid constituting thedecoupling means is energized thereby attracting the brake plate awayfrom the input shaft flange, releasing the brake. The brake plate isgeared to the manual traversing handle through a no-back unit whichprevents the turret from traversing when the brake is applied. In theevent that power is not available, the turret can be traversed by use ofthe 3,528,328 Patented Sept. 15, 1970 manual traverse handle. The brakethen becomes a clutch and is driven by the manual traverse handlethrough a no-back unit.

Other advantages of the present invention will become apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art by the following description whenconsidered in relation to the accompanying drawing of which:

The turret traverse mechanism according to the present invention, isshown, partly in section, in the single figure.

Referring now to the drawing, the outline of a tank support hull isshown at 10. The turret housing 12 is rotatably mounted on the supporthousing by means of bearings 14. An output drive means is shownschematically at 16 having a plurality of gears and an output pinion 18connected with said support hull for transmitting rotative power betweena support housing 12 and the hull. A guide means for the output drivemeans is shown schematically at 20.

Selectively energizable motor means 22 is connected with the output gearmeans by input shaft 24. Hydraulic power for the motor 22 is controlledby the tank gun in a manner which will be described hereinafter. Whenpower is delivered to motor 22 however, rotative force necessary torotate the turret about the traverse axis is transmitted through inputshaft 24, drive means 16-, pinion 18 and then to hull 10.

Hydraulic motor 22 is connected with a power transfer means showngenerally at 26 by means of input shaft 24. Power transfer means 26comprises normally engaged clutch means including driven member 28,driving member 30, biasing means 32, and means for disengaging theclutch means. Driving member 30 comprises a clutch plate 29 mounted ondisc 31 which is secured to shaft 34. Shaft 34 is coaxial with inputshaft 24 and is axially movable. Outward splines 36 formed on the bottomof shaft 34 slidably engage inward splines 38 mounted on hand traversedrive gear 40. The driving member 30 normally engages driven member 28which comprises the clutch plate 25 bonded to disc 27 which is mountedon shaft 24. Biasing means 32 comprises a clutch spring connectedbetween driving member 30 and hand traverse drive gear 40 for yieldablybiasing driving member 30 against driven member 28. The means fordisengaging the clutch means 31 comprises electromagnetic means fordisengaging driving member 31 and driven member 28. Through switch 44 apower source indicated at 42 is connected with the clutch coil formedwithin electromagnetic means 31 and provides a magnetic coupling betweenthe electromagnetic means 31 and driving means 30. The coil is formedfrom a sufficient number of turns to create an electromagnetic fieldwhich is sufficiently strong to attract driving member 30, made of anysuitable magnetic material. Although the means for disengaging theclutch means has been represented in the drawing by only a clutch coil,suitable magnetic material could be provided in and around the clutchcoil to strengthen the magnetic field as necessary.

The means for energizing the hydraulic motor 22 is shown generally indotted area 47. The power source for providing hydraulic fluid for motor22 is shown at 46. Fluid for motor 22 flows from source 46 throughdirectional control valve 52, cross-over relief valve 50, bypass valve48, motor 22, and then back to reservoir 54. When switch 44 is closed toprovide energy to coil 31, current flows to solenoid 56 of bypass valve48 which connects lines 58 and 60 with lines 62 and 64 respectively.Relief valves 66 and 68 will permit fluid to flow therethrough when thepressure on line 64 and 62 respectively exceed a predetermined value.Directional control valve 52 is controlled by the gunners control handle72 and directs the fluid from source 46 through either line 62 or line64 depending on the direction in which the turret is to be turned.Moreover, if desired, the gunner may disconnect the source of fluid andreservoir from the lines 62 and 64 so that the pressure in lines 62 and64 operates as a buffer for motor 22, thereby restricting its movement.When switch 44 is opened, coil 31 is not energized, solenoid operatedbypass valve means 48 is deenergized whereby fluid lines 58 and 60 areshort circuited as shown in the drawing at 59, hence permitting fluid toflow freely therebetween. Although motor 22 remains connected with shaft24, clutch driven member 28, and output gear means 16, this creates verylittle drag on the system.

The manual control means which may be utilized to rotate turret 12 abouthull 10 is shown generally in dotted area 74. Manual control means 74comprises manual traverse gear box 76 having a handle 78 connectedthereto with detent 80 positioning handle 78 in a desired position,universals 82 and 84 with a telescoping spline 86 connectedtherebetween, and a no-back unit 88. Manual traverse gear box maysuitably involve a plurality of gears arranged in a suitable ratio topermit relatively easy turning of the turret by handle 78. Telescopingspline 86 provides for movement of the manual traverse gear box 76relative to the turret housing 12. The universals 82 and 84 shaft withtelescoping splines permits misalignment of the components due to themanufacturing tolerances without affecting the operation or performanceof the manual system. The no-back unit 88 is commercially available andprevents movement of turret housing 12 from being reflected into themanual traverse gear box. Force transmitted by attempted movement of theturret housing 12 will cause no rotation of manual traverse handle 78,due to the presence of the no-back unit. In addition, the handle detent80 keeps the handle in an optimum stowed position when the handle is notused and prevents further possible injury to the operator if the no-backunit fails.

The output of the no-back unit 88 is connected to an output pinion '90which is meshed with hand traverse drive gear 40'. Hand traverse drivegear is mounted on bearings 92 which is fixed to turret housing 12. Anantibaeklash mechanism is normally incorporated with output pinion 90 toeliminate mechanical play.

If desired, the system could further be operated by eliminating both theaforementioned hydraulic supply means and the manual control means forrotating the turret and provide pressurized fluid for the motor 22 by aturret traverse servomechanism. This is conventionally known as thestabilized mode in which the clutch coil 31 and bypass valve 48 areenergized and the clutch is disengaged so that power for the hydraulicmotor is controlled by a servomechanism. The stabilized mode operationis not peculiar to this invention however, and will not be described indetail. If however, it were desirable to utilize such an additionalmode, the power or the hydraulic motor would be supplied at 94.

The operation of the circuit will be first described with reference tothe turret traverse mechanism receiving no electrical power as shown inthe drawing. When the system is thus turned off, biasing spring 32 willurge driving member 30 into engagement with driven member 28, thusbreaking the driven member 28 against rotation. When electrical power isnot available, hydraulic power will not be available to the motor 22because solenoid bypass valve 48 will not be energized and will assumethe bypass position as shown in the drawing. After disengaging handledetent 80, the turret may now be moved by rotating handle 74. Power willbe transmitted to the universal splined shaft, through shaft 24, drivingmember 30, driven member 28, output drive means 16, and finally to hull10. The turret is locked into place by means of the no-back unit 88which prevents rotation of manual traverse handle 78 by precluding thetransfer of energy from gear 90 to the manual control means 74.

When power is available and it is desired to operate the turret traversemechanism in the power load, the gunner squeezes his palm switch 44 whenhe desires to rotate the turret housing about the transverse axis. Whenswitch 44 is closed, the clutch coil 13 is energized thereby attractingthe clutch plate 30 and spline shaft 34 to the coil, thereby compressingbiasing spring 32. With the breaking action caused by the engagement ofdriven and driving members 28 and 30 removed, the input shaft is therebyfree to rotate. When the gunner squeezes his palm switch 44, solenoid 56is also energized which allows hydraulic fluid to pressurize the motor.The operation of the turret is controlled by the gunner in the normalpower mode fashion by gunners control handle 72. By selective control ofhandle 72, the fluid from hydraulic source 46 is directed through line62 or 64 depending on direction in which the turret housing is to beremoved. Assuming for instance, that the gunner connects the inputpressure source 46 with line 64, fluid will flow through line 64,solenoid operated bypass va ve 48, line 62, directional control valve52, and then to the reservoir 54. Power will then be transmitted frommotor 22 through shaft 24, with driven member 28 acting as a flywheel,output drive means 16, and then to the tank hull 10. In the power mode,the turret is locked by the pressure developed in lines 58, 60, 62, and64. When the directional control valve does not connect the source inreservoir with lines 62 and 64, the fluid in these lines acts as abuffer and precludes the motor from rotating freely. Cross-over reliefvalve 50 will, however, permit the flow of fluid therethrough topreclude damage of any of the equipment in the power train system in theevent an excessive force is applied to the main turret housing 12. Itcan be seen therefore that the holding torque of the motor and theholding torque of the clutch will not be additive, hence, the gear train16 need only be designed to withstand the highest of these two torques.This improved design results in a substantial cost savings.

Release of the gunners palm switch 44 breaks the circuit to the clutchcoil 31 and the bypass valve solenoid 56, thereby returning the clutchto the engaged position and the bypass valve to the bypass position asshown in the drawing. The turret can now be traversed by the use of themanual traverse handle and the cycle can be repeated.

It can thus been from the above description that the manual controlmeans is always available to the operator unless the power mode has beenselected. No manual shift operation or mechanisms are required to engagethe manual system. The introduction of the manual system in combinationwith the power system has not increased the inertia of the rotatingmembers in any manner whatsoever for stabilized or power operation. Thedevice is fail safe and the loss of electric or hydraulic power willmechanically engage the clutch, permitting manual traverse.

Since .it is obvious that many changes and modifications can be made inthe above described details without departing from the nature and spiritof the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to said details except as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A turret traverse mechanism comprising:

a turret housing rotatably mounted on a support hull about a traverseaxis,

output gear means connected between said hull and said turret housingfor transmitting rotative power therebetween,

a hydraulic motor mounted on said support housing for selectivelyrotating said turret housing about said traverse axis,

manual control means removably connected with said output gear means forselectively rotating said turret housing about said traverse axis,

electromagnetic clutch means including:

a driven member connected with said output gear means and said hydraulicmotor,

a driving member removably engaging said driven member and connectedwith said manual control means,

a spring biasing means connected with said driving member for yieldablybiasing said driving member against said driven member, and

electromagnetic means mounted on said housing and magnetically coupledwith said driving means to disengage said driving and driven memberswhen said electromagnetic means is connected with a source of electricalpower,

hydraulic source means removably connected with said hydraulic motor,and solenoid operated valve means connected with said motor and operableto connect and disconnect said hydraulic source means and said motorwhen said driving and driven members are disengaged and are engagedrespectively whereby said turret may be selectively rotated about saidtraverse axis by either said motor or said manual control means.

2. A turret traverse mechanism comprising:

a turret housing rotatably mounted on a support hull,

outut drive means connected between said turret and said hull fortransmitting rotative power therebetween,

selectively energizeable motor means connected with said output drivemeans selectively providing rotative power for selectively rotating saidturret housing about a traverse axis,

manual control means removably coupled with said output drive means forselectively providing rotative power for selectively rotating saidturret housing about said axis,

power transfer means for selectively connecting said manual controlmeans with said output drive means when said motor means is deenergizedcomprising:

a driven member connected with said output drive means;

a driving member connected with said manual control means;

a housing means for biasing said driven and driving members intoengagement, and

means for disengaging said driving and driven members comprising anelectromagnetic means mounted on said support housing and adapted to beconnected with a source of electrical power, said electromagnetic meansbeing magnetically coupled with said driving member and operable toselectively disengage said driving and driven members when power fromsaid source is applied to said electromagnetic means, whereby saidmanual control means is disconnected from said output drive means, andsaid turret may be selectively rotated about said traverse axis byeither said motor means or said manual control means.

3. A turret traverse mechanism comprising: a turret housing rotatablymounted on a support hull, output drive means connected between saidturret and said hull for transmitting rotative power therebetween,selectively energizeable motor means connected with said output drivemeans selectively providing rotative power for selectively rotating saidturret housing about a traverse axis, manual control means removablycoupled with said output drive means for selectively providing rotativepower for selectively rotating said turret housing about said axis,power transfer means for selectively connecting said manual controlmeans with said output drive means when said motor means is deenergizedcomprising:

a driven member connected with said output drive means, a driving memberconnected with said manual control means, a biasing means for biasingsaid driven and driving members into engagement, and means fordisengaging. said driving and driven members whereby said manual controlmeans is disconnected from said output drive means, and said turret maybe selectively rotated about said traverse axis by either said motormeans or said manual control means.

3/1948 Matulaitis et al. 74-626 8/ 1950 Marcy 74626 WESLEY S. RATLIFF,111., Primary Examiner

